Permaculture Fruit Trees: Pawpaws need special care!

Pawpaws are the largest fruit native in North America. However, they don't naturally grow in the PNW, and require some extra attention to thrive here.
Click here to see an update on my trees, June 2020: • Growing pawpaws: growi...
Books on PawPaws (I get a small commission if you purchase through these links):
Pawpaws: The Complete Growing and Marketing Guide
Kindle: amzn.to/3TfLqTU
Paperback: amzn.to/3EyliQ3
Pawpaw: In Search of America's Forgotten Fruit:
Kindle: amzn.to/3MkS9dj
Paperback: amzn.to/3VicbZS
Hardcover: amzn.to/3Ez3KUi
For the Love of Paw Paws:
Kindle: amzn.to/3Vi7gbg
Paperback: amzn.to/3RQVzpi
Complete Book List of books I've read and recommend on pawpaws: a.co/7ZBKHjQ
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[@maryyett4637]

A much easier and also more attractive way to shade young pawpaw trees is to put a tomato cage around the young tree as shown ( or use a circle of fencing when the trees get a bit bigger), but then plant every spring a vigorous tomato variety ( I use a cherry tomato) on the outside of the tomato cage on the west side and allow the tomato plant to cover the wire cage and even grow a bit on top of the baby pawpaw. They evolved to sprout and spend their early life in the shade and understory growth of the woods and can handle this type of what looks like being smothered quite well. You also get a tomato crop and there are no unsightly fabric covers to look at and no need to reattach them after a wind storm, etc.

[@jaditegypsy9427]

I'm in Iowa and lost a few pawpaw trees when I used tomato cages. Although they are supposed to be pest resistant, something eats them. I've found that the best shelter for our yard is a large metal dog cage. I keep the tray in the bottom, cut off the door, and use wire to attach fine mesh all around for shade. We set the cages door side down and anchor them with metal tiki torches. My yard looks nuts but my mature paw paws are gorgeous.

[@melissab8500]

Thank you! I'll give it a shot

[@edibletropicaltrees]

A friend of mine has several varieties of Paw Paw growing in Tucson Arizona and I just planted 4 Paw Paw trees (PA Gold and Susquehanna) in Mesa Arizona close to Phoenix. Wish me luck 🤞.

[@thecrittergitter7576]

I bought some pawpaw seeds and forgot that I had them. This last fall I found them. I decided to plant 3 locations 3 seeds each. I also put about 9 of them in some moist composted mulch in a ziploc bag and placed them in the refrigerator until March here in Eastern North Carolina at which time if they have sprouted I will plant in the understory of my pines. That way they will be protected.

[@wesleyrobbins]

I heard your not suppose to let the seeds dry out!

[@thecrittergitter7576]

@@wesleyrobbins they were dry when I got them. Of the 3 locations, I have something growing up out of the ground. It's about 4inches tall, starting to leaf out. I will know more in a couple days/2 weeks .

[@TB-rx1ue]

The Critter Gitter g how’s your pawpaw

[@thecrittergitter7576]

Never came up. I planted 6 seeds in 3 different locations. In cover from the sun.

[@TB-rx1ue]

@@thecrittergitter7576 oh bummer. So sad. Now I’m starting to feel a bit hopeless

[@janicewilliamson2534]

It may not be slugs eating leaves. Could be zebra swallowtail butterflies caterpillars as paw paws are there only host plant

[@Qingeaton]

Right on the money with the shade ideas. We use tomato cages too with shade cloth on top and down the west side. They also get tree tubes against rabbits, who don't eat them, but lick the cut stub. That PA Golden is a full flavored variety. Best not to start newbies on it or you will lose them:) I've done it.

[@magicmegan4290]

My mom is delivering a couple baby pawpaws from an oregon nursery (I live in Yakima, wA) and I am going to be so worried about them not dying!!) Love what you've done with your garden. I would also love a grape arbor and I have also researched rocket stoves!! Awesome!!

[@donavonmacallister3101]

What are those orange flowers? They are absolutely adorable.

[@TheHolmsteadWithJesseHolm]

Hello! I would like to start out by saying thanks for the info around these neat fruit trees. I am looking forward to planting a few this year and your information just gave them a better chance to thrive. One quick tip from one gardener to another, crush some egg shells and surround your plants that the slugs are targeting. It will provide some nutrient, but with it's sharp edges it will definitely repulse the little beasts! All my best!

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Thanks for visiting and commenting! The slugs here are pretty aggressive and resilient. I've tried everything in the book, and the only success I've had is letting my ducks roam free. The slugs will crawl right over/through any barrier I've tried. The front yard has more slugs bc the ducks don't have access to it, and I haven't been as diligent about hand-picking in the early morning as I should be.

[@TheHolmsteadWithJesseHolm]

Parkrose Permaculture have you tried laying old wooden board on the ground, or cardboard? They will be underneath in numbers come morning, easy to collect that way!

[@JohnDoe_88]

Very informative video! Well done, I just planted paw paws in Michigan hopefully they survive....

[@nakikinoodle4344]

The only advice I would have is that paw paw trees enjoy clumping together. If you are able to get your hands on a few more, they would benefit, in my opinion. I stumbled across your page in my search for pollination tips. I've read frequently that in order to produce the best yield, people will hang roadkill from the mature trees in order attract the flies that typically will pollinate them. But I was wondering if you wrapped the tree in bug netting and released pollinators such as ladybugs, if that wouldn't work? I'm really struggling to find info on this if you know anything. I know hand pollination is an option if not. I'm unsure because I don't want the lady bugs to eat the leaves up, though if they're not really attracted in the first place, I imagine they would just crawl across the flowers for a few days until I release them without much harm? I know you're not at that stage yet, but figured I ask anyway. Thanks!

[@Jessebecerrajr2]

How about companion planting some plants that have the carrion scent flowers . I think black cohosh is one there are more.

[@thecrittergitter7576]

I didn't know ladybugs ate plant matter. They eat aphids off my tomatoes and other vegetables in my garden. I would definitely check out the diet of ladybugs and ladybug lookalike.

[@RiceTeaLover]

Do you ever wrap your trees in winter? Or what do you think of white paint like iv organics?

[@EddieVBlueIsland]

Can we have an update? Mine were grown in direct sunlight with no issues aside from kids bruising trunks while cutting the grass - they made it to fruit tree about 20 feet

[@wheelbarrowfriend2035]

Do you know what is the temp inside the fabric wrapping? I find that my plants burn up if there isn't enough air space from the shade cover, 2-3 ft. But I think my summers are much more intense than yours.

[@mikkeljylland9153]

Always plant paw paw in spring. Buy larger plants if possible. Dont let it get dry. Pray.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I had actually read in several places that because pawpaws are tap-rooted, it's actually better to plant them smaller, because they do not transplant well once they get larger, as their taproot is delicate.

[@JohnDoe_88]

Parkrose Permaculture I just planted 3 Papas that I had in a pot from last year. And yeah I could see a delicate taproot at the bottom of the pot that was comparable to a bean sprout that could snap easily.... I'm hoping I didn't snap the roots but yeah Pawpaws can get stressed easily

[@ItsMeYeseniaG]

Happy new subscriber here... I'm really enjoying your videos. Pawpaws are very finicky when young. What grow zone are you in? I have two young ones that I'm protecting right now.

[@nakikinoodle4344]

Oh my. Looks like someone has a new subscriber.

[@BinhNguyen-es9uz]

Hello Angela how long do you block the sun from your pawpaw tree. I grew my pawpaw tree in march 20-2019and coverup all though the year. I wonder do I have to cover this year too.

[@xCarxMellax]

how are they looking now? 2019? I'm in oregon and I want to grow some of these. I would put them in pots because I don't have a spot for in ground.

[@amjadkhan-tz8qi]

Paw paws have a large deep taproot, so you may want to consider that if attempting to grow them in a container.

[@smokeydabeecharlescoleman8365]

Where are you located at ? I'm near Ocala Florida and would love to try PAw Paw . Btw , there are at least 4 varieties of Paw Paw native to Florida.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Portland, Oregon. Pawpaws are not native this far West and are notoriously hard to grow here. Have lots of gardener friends fail to get them established. Just checked on mine and they are beginning to bud out for spring and look pretty darn healthy, so I'm hoping!

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

"Certified Back-yard Habitat"? whatever that's supposed to mean.

[@morjulies]

I am loving all your videos! What variety of peach is it?

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

"Oregon Curl Free". The peaches aren't very big, but I have eaten them from a friend's tree and they have good flavor and texture.

[@HewettHomestead]

were in florida..do paw paws grow here

[@centralscrutinizer76]

We have them in the florida panhandle. My neighbor has 3 ,i have 2 they grow slow here until they get 4 or 5 years old ,but they are growing .Mine are 4 years old and around 4 feet tall .they just put leaves on last week and are growing way faster than years past . It takes about 6 years to get the tree to fruit.

[@maranscandy9350]

Asimina triloba can definitely grow in north Florida. Farther south you could probably grow its tropical cousins cherimoya, custard apple, soursop, guanabana, etc.

[@bfillip1]

How long would you shade the pawpaw? Until they're about what size? I have a small one (same size as yours) and a taller one (about 4 feet tall). I just bought both a month ago and don't know how old they are. I'm not shading the large one, but definitely shading the smaller one.

[@BombaclaatGatofish]

I'm sure you've got it figured out by now, but for anyone else wondering, it is recommended to shade young pawpaw trees until they're 18" tall

[@tomhancock541]

where are you growing these paw paws? can i grow then in north fla.?

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Portland, Oregon

[@jtb108]

It would be helpful in making videos like this if everyone would say where they are and what zone they are in so we can determine relevance.

[@wesleyrobbins]

She's in Portland, OR zone 8b

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I say it all over including the channel description. I’m in 8b in Portland, Oregon.